SO: I thought we were doing it separately. I object. I want to do it separately.

AO: I’ll be right back. I have to get stoked for this.

CO: Do you think I’m funny?

(Laughter)

AO: It depends on what day it is.

SO: Monday, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Not so much on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

CO: All right… That went well. Let’s move on.

AO: It depends on whether I’m being your mom, or going to see you in something.

CO: Was there a moment when I was growing up that you thought, “Hey, this kid might one day think she’s a comedian?”

SO: Yes.

AO: Every night at dinner from the time you were about… Oh, I guess a year… you would wait, everyone would sit at the dinner table, and you would stand up in your high chair and say, “It’s showtime.”

CO: Do you have anything else to add, dad?

SO: Always. Right from the beginning.

AO: Before you were even here, it was a joke. You were one of God’s little jokes. Should we get into that? Do you want to tell that story?

SO: No, don’t.

CO: Explain the Harold.

AO: Harold who? No. I know there’s beats. What do you know about it?

SO: What?

AO: The Harold.

SO: The Harold? I don’t even know what we’re talking about.

AO: The type of improv she does. There’s three sections and so many beats to each section, but I can’t figure it out from watching it. I need a drum to find the beats.

SO: Can I say anything about the other?

AO: Organic’s too noisy.

SO: I like it better than the other.

CO: How do you feel about improv?

AO: I like it. Some’s funnier than others. We can go back into that again…

SO: I think it’s really hard when you have 5 or 6 people on stage not to end up with one or two people who dominate… to be honest.

AO: I still don’t believe that you don’t use stuff that you did in rehearsal. If it’s failing and flailing and you have good stuff that you did in rehearsal. Why not use it?

CO: We don’t.

AO: Well, then I guess I just don’t get the rehearsals. But yeah, I like improv, I come see you all the time. Some nights are funnier than others, just like some days you’re funnier than others. I could have said it depends what side of the bed you woke up on.

CO: Do you have a favorite Davenger moment?

SO: I think there’s been a lot of funny moments. The only thing I can think of pointing to is always your first improv show is the best, because you don’t really know what to expect and it’s better than what you expect it to be. That’s the only way I can put it.

AO: The show where Hilary played Hans and you were in relaxation therapy, but you were afraid of rubber bands and they kept stressing you out with them; that was the therapy. Then you were doing bumper cars and Kevin made you kill a child, and the show ended with Hilary saying, “You’ve been Hans-ed.”

CO: When you brag about me to your friends, what’s the first thing you say? When answering, please remember this is a comedy article that all my funny friends will see (so maybe say something about how hilarious I am).

SO: I don’t know, I just say you’ve been performing on stage since as long as I can remember. What was she 7 or 8? And we’ve always enjoyed…

AO: I was always stunned when she started doing improv because I was always thought she was a drama queen.

SO: Oh no, I think she should do stand up comedy. That’s the natural extension.

AO: I’d always seen her in dramas and the first time I saw her in a role when she was funny, like overtly physically funny, all the physicality, expressions, timing. I was blown away by it. And the role in that play was dumb, so you took it to the absurd, and it was really funny.

CO: What do you think about me performing comedy?

AO: I’d like to see you push it more. You still look to me like you hesitate, and you allow other people to continue when I know there’s something hidden behind your little smile that’s probably funny.

SO: Well, I’ve always liked some of the more physical humor, like Dick Van Dyke, or people that do physical, Jack Tripper, people that do physical comedy. And I remember at the last show I went to, that was the remark I made to Dan the way, out of the blue, he does this contortion with his body. I think that the expressions and the actions are as important as what comes out of your mouth sometimes.

CO: Do you think I should try stand up?

SO: Yes. Absolutely. What are you waiting for?

AO: I think you should because I think you’re a good writer, and I think if you put your mind to it… but sometimes you’re lazy.

SO: A lot of people that do stand up comedy are afraid of the audience. A lot of them. I remember distinctly Johnny Carson was afraid of crowds.

AO: Oh boy, Dad’s gonna give you a history lesson. I think it’s hard for females. A guy can get away with any raw comment, but when a female does it…

CO: What do you think my opening joke should be?

AO: One time at band camp… No.vDon’t say the lawn mower joke, Steve.

SO: No, you don’t do jokes. You do more like something that happened to you on the way to the place… or…

AO: Let me tell you about my mother…? That’s always a good place to start. Here’s to the mothers, it’s their fault.

SO: You could open it with the two girls in diapers.

CO: What?

AO: No idea what you’re talking about.

SO: Dogs in diapers it’s a funny image.

AO: Oh, the girls.

SO: To me part of doing stand up is relating stories about people that you know.

SO: Uh, so I’m just gonna say you to get it out of the way then. Current comedian? Probably, Lewis Black. I like Seinfeld.

AO: I pick Robin Williams.

AO: Yeah, I like Robin Williams. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

SO: Oh yeah, Tina Fey.

CO: Anything else you want to add?

AO: I think you should push it. I think you should pursue it.

SO: You could create a character like um… what’s her name did… SNL… Gilda Radner.

AO: Oh, I know who I love, Gilda Radner’s husband, Gene Wilder.

SO: When you can develop something where you get into character, you can really go with it, rather than standing there and telling jokes, you can be in character.

AO: You do that well. I can see your acting experience. I like when improv has a connection to the acting.

Cait currently improvises with Philly Improv Theater house team Davenger directed by the amazing Maggy Keegan. She can also be seen in improv duos DupliCate and Mr. and Mrs.

If you are a Philadelphia-area comedian who’d like to interview one (or both) of your parents send us an email to contact@witout.net for more information. Go ahead, do it. You should really call your parents more anyways.

My eyes have been bleeding for reasons completely unrelated to this article, which was pleasant — or at least the parts I could make out through my blurry, crimson field of vision were nice. It pains me so to read. *sobs*

It is unfortunate that an individual would go out of their way to write something hurtful. Well, first commenter, your attempt at malicious degradation toward Cait and something as loving as this interview is repulsive. It is apparent that you are simply trying to vindictively taint a reputation. You have not. I award you no points… and may God have mercy on your soul.

You’ve been Googling Cait’s name on and off for months and finally, just as you were about to switch your search query over to “funny dick pics” or whatever it is your desensitized libido requires of the you to start your 3rd jerk session of your unemployed day, you hit gold!

This is it. Your chance to shame her “publicly”. At least as publicly as you’re comfortable with. I mean, after all, you’d need a car to come all the way to Philly and talk shit in person. So you crack your crusty knuckles and get to work.

And this is your A material? Leave the cleverness to the comedians like Cait. You go back to hiding your search history from your mom.

Caity O.? This Shows me you do not know Cait at all, but you have given her the best compliment of all: Your jealousy, deuces. I wish you luck in finding what it is you are missing in your life, as only an unfulfilled person would find this type of comment without identifying themselves necessary. AOD.

In defense of the first commenter, whenever I forget how puncuation works, how to spell, or what causes eyes to bleed I also like to post shitty things. Picking apart a genuinely smart and talented women makes me feel awesome. Like I’m super tall with a great hair cut and a motorcycle tattoo. That’s because my life is awful and I’m terribly insecure, but not for long! I’m about to go on reddit. Watch out some lady. I also have emotional problems that explode out of me by three (3 the number) in the afternoon. I’m with you, guy. Don’t let all these people get you down. Sure it might prove that she is funny and has more friends, but fuck that. Keep your chins up. I have to go now. I need to find someone to tell me if this bowl is full of glass or cereal. I don’t “want” to get “yelled” at in a “hospital” again.

I see the firestorm I’ve started. I’m so very sorry, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I was clearly stating my opinion at the self indulgence of this article; and how I don’t it’s right for someone to do something like this, it gives the air of pretentiousness. Now, I critiqued Cait as being one dimensional, and overrated in the comedy department. You, her friends, instead of defending the merits of her comedy or acting, you chose to insult me and try to bring me down.

Now, had I written a review in a newspaper about her performances in a newspaper (print or online). Would you all attack me so vehemently? Had I gone to see her in one of her recent productions, and then wrote a critique, would you attack me again? If the answer is yes, then I feel bad for Cait, because the theatre world is full of people like me, and she cannot go running into the bosom of her friends every time someone thinks she stinks.

Next time, instead of blindly insulting, or simply pontificating how “awesome” Cait is, try doing this; defend her with facts, tell me about a show she did, or a bit, something that could prove me wrong. But alas, I leave you to the “Hey asshole” comments that will surely fire up.

Dear Asshole,
Yes you are an ASSHOLE! If you were a critic you would use your real name, but no you hide. And HAD you seen her perform then you may be able to give your opinion…. if you were someone we would want to listen to.

I was struck by how you said, “I have it on good authority that Caity O here is one dimensional and not that funny.” And then you said the thing about her existence making your eyes bleed. Those would be out-of-place in a newspaper review, so I suspect that people would respond the same way if you’d written them there.

As it is, it would be weird and ridiculous to respond to your eyes-bleeding comment with an argument as to why her existence should NOT, in fact, make your eyes bleed. And, as for defending her artistic merits, I’ll say the following: I have it on good authority (i.e myself, from times when I have seen her perform) that Caity O here is pretty funny and not one dimensional.

Most of what people were responding to, I think, was how what you said was mean and not at all restricted to commentary on the article she wrote.

I would like to request that, rather than posting anonymously online, if you have an issue with me to please have the courtesy and courage to show your face, and to just contact me directly. I see how you might mistake my article for what you call “Cretencious;” however, I’d like to make you aware that the site created this idea, not myself. There have been two other comedians before me to interview their parents in the same way and there will be many more after. Rather than attack my friends, my family, and my community in an article that is most importantly supposed to be dedicated to the love and support of my wonderful parents about issues I’m assuming actually have nothing to do with my acting or comedy, I would appreciate it if you behaved like an adult and handled the situation privately with me. Please refrain from using this forum any further.